Fluid conveyance system for industrial machine

ABSTRACT

An industrial machine includes a frame supporting a boom, an elongated member movably coupled to the boom, an attachment, a conduit, and a reel supporting at least a portion of the conduit. The boom includes a first end coupled to the frame and a second end opposite the first end. The elongated member is movably coupled to the boom and includes a first end and a second end. The attachment is coupled to the second end of the elongated member. The conduit extends between the frame and the attachment. The reel is rotatably supported on a support shaft. The reel rotates about an axis of rotation to reel in and pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves relative to the boom.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending, prior-filed U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/033,428, filed Sep. 20, 2013, whichclaims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/704,050, filed Sep. 21, 2012. The entire contents ofthese documents are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to industrial machines. Specifically, thepresent invention relates to a fluid conveyance system for a earthmovingmachine attachment.

Conventional rope shovels include a frame supporting a boom and a handlecoupled to the boom for rotational and translational movement. A dipperis attached to the handle and is supported by a cable or rope thatpasses over an end of the boom. The rope is secured to a bail that ispivotably coupled to the dipper. During the hoist phase, the rope isreeled in by a hoist drum, lifting the dipper upward through a bank ofmaterial and liberating a portion of the material. The orientation ofthe dipper relative to the handle is generally fixed and cannot becontrolled independently of handle and hoist rope.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention provides an industrial machine including aframe supporting a boom, an elongated member movably coupled to theboom, an attachment, a conduit, and a reel supporting at least a portionof the conduit. The boom includes a first end coupled to the frame and asecond end opposite the first end. The elongated member is movablycoupled to the boom and includes a first end and a second end. Theattachment is coupled to the second end of the elongated member. Theconduit extends between the frame and the attachment. The reel isrotatably supported on a support shaft. The reel rotates about an axisof rotation to reel in and pay out the conduit as the elongated membermoves relative to the boom.

In another aspect, the invention provides an industrial machineincluding a frame supporting a fluid source and a boom, a handle movablycoupled to the boom for translational and rotational movement relativeto the boom, an attachment coupled to the handle, a conduit, a firstreel, and a second reel. The conduit includes a first portion, a secondportion, and a fluid coupling. The first portion is in fluidcommunication with a portion of the attachment. The second portion is influid communication with the fluid source. The fluid coupling includes afirst end in fluid communication with the first portion of the conduitand a second end in fluid communication with the second portion of theconduit. The first reel supports the first portion of the conduit and isrotatable to reel in and pay out the first portion of conduit as theattachment moves relative to the boom. The second reel supports thesecond portion of the conduit and is rotatable to reel in and pay outthe second portion of the conduit as the attachment moves relative tothe boom.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a fluid conveyance systemfor an industrial machine having a frame supporting a fluid source and aboom, an elongated member movably coupled to the boom and having a firstend and a second end, and an attachment coupled to the second end of theelongated member. The fluid conveyance system includes a conduit forproviding fluid to a portion of the attachment, a support shaft definingan axis of rotation, a first reel rotatably supported on the supportshaft, and a second reel. The conduit includes a first portion, a secondportion, and a fluid coupling. The second portion is configured to be influid communication with the fluid source. The fluid coupling providesfluid communication between the first portion and the second portion.The first reel supports the first portion of the conduit and isrotatable about the axis of rotation to reel in and pay out the firstportion. The second reel supports the second portion of the conduit andis rotatable to reel in and pay out the second portion.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shovel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle, a saddle block, a shippershaft, and a bucket.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the handle, saddle block, shipper shaft andbucket of FIG. 2 taken along section 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fluid conveyance system with the handleextended.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fluid conveyance system with thehandle retracted.

FIG. 6 is partial exploded perspective view of a hose reel and atransmission.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the hose reel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fluid conveyance system according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a mining shovel according to anotherembodiment.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a mining shovel 10 rests on a support surface orground, and includes a frame 22 supporting a boom 26 and a fluid source28 (e.g., a fluid pump), an elongated member or handle 30, an attachmentor bucket 34 including pivot actuators 36, and a fluid conveyance system38. The frame 22 includes a hoist drum 40 for reeling in and paying outa cable or hoist rope 42. The boom 26 includes a first end 46 coupled tothe frame 22, a second end 50 opposite the first end 46, a boom sheave54, a saddle block 58, and a shipper shaft 62 (FIG. 2). The boom sheave54 is coupled to the second end 50 of the boom 26 and guides the rope 42over the second end 50. The saddle block 58 is rotatably coupled to theboom 26 by the shipper shaft 62, which is positioned between the firstend 46 and the second end 50 of the boom 26. The shipper shaft 62extends through the boom 26 in a direction that is transverse to alongitudinal axis of the boom 26, and the shipper shaft 62 includes oneor more pinions 66 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rope 42 is coupled to the bucket34 by a bail 70, and the bucket 34 is raised or lowered as the rope 42is reeled in or paid out, respectively, by the hoist drum 40.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 30 includes a pair of arms 78defining a first end 82 and a second end 86. The first end 82 ispivotably coupled to the bucket 34. The second end 86 is movablyreceived in the saddle block 58, which is rotatable relative to the boom26 (FIG. 1) about the shipper shaft 62. The handle arms 78 movably passthrough each saddle block 58 such that the handle 30 is capable ofrotational and translational movement relative to the boom 26 (FIG. 1).Stated another way, the handle 30 is linearly extendable relative to thesaddle block 58 and is rotatable about the shipper shaft 62. In theillustrated embodiment, the handle 30 is substantially straight. Inother embodiments, the handle 30 may include a curved portion. Thehandle 30 also includes a rack 74 for engaging the pinion 66, forming arack-and-pinion coupling between the handle 30 and the boom 26. Rotationof the shipper shaft 62 facilitates translational movement of the handle30 relative to the boom 26.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bucket 34 is a clamshell-type bucket34 having a rear wall 98 and a main body 102 that can be separated fromthe rear wall 98 to empty the contents of the bucket 34. In otherembodiments, the shovel 10 may include other types of attachments,buckets, or dippers. Each pivot actuator 36 is coupled between thebucket 34 and the handle 30. The pivot actuators 36 actively control thepitch of the bucket 34 (i.e., the angle of the bucket 34 relative to thehandle 30) by rotating the bucket 34 about the handle first end 82. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the pivot actuators 36 are hydrauliccylinders.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fluid conveyance system 38 includes aconduit 102, a first reel 110, and a second reel 114. In someembodiments, a fluid conveyance system 38 is positioned on each side ofthe handle 30.

The conduit 102 includes a first portion 118 that is at least partiallywrapped around the first reel 110 and a second portion 122 that is atleast partially wrapped around the second reel 114. In the illustratedembodiment, the first portion 118 extends from the first reel 110 towardthe first end 82 of the handle 30 and includes an end in fluidcommunication with a valve block or manifold 134 (FIG. 1). The secondportion 122 of the conduit extends between the fluid source 28 and thesecond reel 114. The first portion 118 and the second portion 122 are influid communication with one another by a fluid tube 146 (FIGS. 6 and7), which is discussed in greater detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manifold 134 is coupled to the handle 30proximate the first end 82 and includes lines 138 that supplypressurized fluid to the pivot actuators 36, which are illustrated asdouble-acting hydraulic cylinders. In some embodiments, the lines 138supply pressurized fluid to bucket actuators (not shown) for pivotingthe main body 102 relative to the rear wall 98. In some embodiments, themanifold 134 provides fluid communication between the first portion 118(FIG. 4) of the conduit 102 and various mechanical connections on thebucket 34 and the handle 30 to provide lubricative fluid to theconnections. The lubricative fluid may be a liquid, solid, and/orsemi-solid (e.g., grease). Alternatively, the conduit 102 may includeseparate parallel lines to convey both lubricative fluid and hydraulicfluid, and may include parallel electrical and communication lines. Instill other embodiments, the lines 138 and/or the first portion 118 mayextend along an inner surface of the handle 30. Furthermore, in otherembodiments, the first portion 118 may extend from the reel 110 (FIG. 4)toward the second end 86 of the handle 30 and then extend along thelength of the handle 30 toward the first end 82.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the first reel 110 includes multiple pins154 positioned around the circumference of the reel 110, and the firstportion 118 (FIG. 5) of the conduit 102 is wrapped and unwrapped aroundthe pins 154 as the reel 110 rotates. In other embodiments, the pins 154may be substituted as a continuous surface. The first reel 110 issupported for rotation by a support shaft 158 and is rotatable about anaxis 162. In the illustrated embodiment, the second reel 114 is alsosupported for rotation by the support shaft 158 and rotates about theaxis 162. In the illustrated embodiment, the first reel 110 and thesecond reel 114 are coupled together such that both reels 110, 114rotate about the axis 162 in the same direction and at the same speed.In other embodiments, the second reel 114 may rotate independently ofthe first reel 110, including rotating in an opposite direction and/orrotating at a different speed than the first reel 110. The second reel114 also includes pins 164 around which the second portion 122 (FIG. 5)of the conduit 102 is wrapped. In addition, the first reel 110 of has alarger diameter than the second reel 114. The smaller second reel 114reduces weight and the second portion 122 can be sized to reduce theslack due to rotation of the second reel 114. In other embodiments, thereels 110, 114 could be the same size, or the second reel 114 could belarger than the first reel 110.

As shown in FIG. 6, the support shaft 158 is driven by a transmission170. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission 170 includes a dualreduction, parallel shaft gear drive; in other embodiments, thetransmission 170 may include another type of mechanism. The transmission170 includes a pinion 174 coupled to the shipper shaft 62 and engaging afirst gear 178. The first gear 178 is coupled to a second gear 182 (forexample, by mounting on a common shaft 186), which engages a drive gear190 coupled to the support shaft 158. Rotation of the drive gear 190rotates the first reel 110 and the second reel 114. The transmission 170is coupled to the saddle block 58, boom 26 (FIG. 1), or anotherstructure unaffected by the motion of the rack-and-pinion connectionbetween the handle 30 and the shipper shaft 62.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission 170 causes the firstreel 110 to rotate in the same direction as the shipper shaft 62 andestablishes a timing relationship between the angular displacement ofthe shipper shaft 62 and the angular displacement of the first reel 110.This relationship utilizes the crowd motion of the handle 30 to pay outand reel in the correct length of the conduit 102, thereby avoidingexcessive tension on the conduit 102 when the handle 30 is extended andlimiting the amount of slack when the handle 30 is retracted. In otherembodiments, the gears 174, 178, 182, and 190 may be sized differentlyin order to provide a desired speed reduction between the shipper shaft62 and the first reel 110. In still other embodiments, the transmissionmay be a planetary gear transmission.

Furthermore, the first reel 110 and the second reel 114 may beindependently driven (e.g., mounted on separate shafts), and the firstportion 118 and second portion 122 may be coupled by a swivel or rotaryunion or other fluid coupling to accommodate independent movement of thereels 110, 114. Alternatively, the first reel 110 and the second reel114 may be coupled by a second transmission that establishes a timingrelationship between the first reel 110 and the second reel 114. Instill other embodiments, the reels 110, 114 may be directly fixed to theshipper shaft 62 to provide a direct timing relationship. In otherembodiments, the rotation of the reels 110, 114 can be controlled by aseparate motor, such as a torque-controlled motor that maintains arelatively constant tension on the conduit 102.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fluid tube 146 extends between the firstreel 110 and the second reel 114. The fluid tube 146 includes a firstport 202 in fluid communication with the first portion 118 (FIG. 3) ofthe conduit 102 and a second port 206 in fluid communication with thesecond portion 122 (FIG. 3) of the conduit 102. The first port 202 ispositioned proximate the first reel 110, and the second port 206 ispositioned proximate the second reel 114. The fluid tube 146 extendsbetween the reels 110, 114 at a position that is offset from the axis ofrotation 162. In other embodiments, the tube 146 may extend through thesupport shaft 158 such that the fluid tube 146 is aligned with the axis162.

As shown in FIG. 7, each port 202, 206 may be coupled to the respectiveportion of the conduit 102 using any known type of conventional fluidcoupling. Although the fluid couplings in the illustrated embodiment ispositioned within the circumference of the pins 154 of the first reel110 and within the circumference of the pins 164 of the second reel 114,it is understood that the couplings may include a portion extendingoutwardly between the pins 154, 164 to engage the first portion 118 andthe second portion 122, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, as the shipper shaft 62 (FIG. 2) rotates,the handle 30 will either extend or retract with respect to the boom 26.As the handle 30 is extended (FIG. 4), the first reel 110 rotates in afirst direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) to pay out the first portion 118of the conduit 102 to accommodate the extension. The rotation of theshipper shaft 62 drives the transmission 170 (FIG. 6) and causes thesupport shaft 158 (FIG. 6) and the reels 110 and 114 to rotate at apredetermined rate. The second reel 114 pays out the second portion 122of the conduit 102, which is suspended in a slack state beneath thesecond reel 114. When the handle 30 is retracted (FIG. 5), the reels110, 114 rotate in a second direction (counter-clockwise in FIG. 4)opposite the first direction, with the first reel 110 winding up thefirst portion 118 and the second reel 114 winding up the second portion122.

In the illustrated embodiment, the circumference of the outer surface ofthe pins 154 is approximately equal to a maximum extension length of thehandle 30 (i.e., the length of the rack, also referred to as the crowddistance). As a results, the first reel 110 rotates throughapproximately 360 degrees or one full revolution as the handle 30 isretracted or extended, thereby causing the first portion 118 of theconduit 102 to wrap once around the pins 154 when the handle 30 is fullyretracted (FIG. 5). In other embodiments, the first reel 110 may besized such that the reel 110 rotates through more or less than 360degrees as the handle 30 is extended and retracted.

Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the first reel 110 rotatesclockwise as the handle 30 is extended and counter-clockwise as thehandle 30 is retracted. In other embodiments, the first portion 118 ofconduit 102 may be wrapped onto the reel 110 such that the reel 110rotates counter-clockwise as the handle 30 is extended. In still otherembodiments wherein the reels 110 and 114 are mounted together, thefirst portion 118 can be wrapped onto the first reel 110 in a firstdirection (e.g., clockwise) and the second portion 122 wrapped onto thesecond reel 114 in an opposite direction (e.g., counter-clockwise) sothat the reels simultaneously pay out and wind in their respectiveconduit portions. Additionally, in other embodiments in which the firstportion 118 extends directly from the first reel 110 to the rear orsecond end 86 of the handle 30, the conduit 102 is wrapped around thefirst reel 110 as the handle 30 is extended. In embodiments wherein thereels 110, 114 are independently mounted, the reels 110, 114 can becontrolled to rotate in opposite directions from one another so thatwhen one reel is winding up a portion of the conduit, the other reel ispaying out conduit.

In some embodiments, the first portion 118 may wrap onto the pins 154 ofthe first reel 110 multiple times at the same diameter (i.e., sequentialwrappings of the conduit 102 are positioned side-by-side on the reel110) to match the timing of the handle to the shipper shaft. In otherembodiments, the first portion 118 can be wrapped on itself. The latterconfiguration would cause the effective diameter of the first reel 110to change as the first portion 118 wraps onto the reel 110. Althoughthis configuration would require the length of the first portion 118 tobe greater than the extension distance of the handle 30, it would alsopermit the size of the first reel 110 to be reduced.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment in which the second reel 110 hasan oblong shape (e.g., an egg-shape or an elliptical shape). The oblongshape of the second reel 114 reduces the amount of the second portion122 of conduit 102 that is paid out, thereby reducing the sagging in thesecond portion 122 of the conduit 102 (e.g., when the handle 30 isextended). In other embodiments, the second reel 110 rotates about thesame axis as the first reel 110 but is eccentrically positioned withrespect to the axis. In still other embodiments, an axis of rotation forthe second reel 114 may be offset from an axis of rotation of the secondreel 110 such that the axes are non-collinear.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the fluid conveyance system 38in which the first reel 110 and the second reel 114 are supported on theshovel 10 independent from the shipper shaft 62. In this embodiment, therotation of the reels 110, 114 is driven by a separate controllerincluding a power source such as a motor (not shown) coupled to theshaft 158. The controller may also include a tensioner and/or loadsensors for measuring the tension and or catenary loading on the conduit102. As the handle 30 extends and retracts, the motor applies a torqueon the shaft 158 to maintain a desired tension on the conduit 102.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a fluid conveyancesystem for a mining shovel. Although the invention has been described indetail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations andmodifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or moreindependent aspects of the invention as described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digging assembly for a rope shovel, the rope shovel including a frame supporting a fluid source, a boom coupled to the frame and including a first end and a second end, and a transverse drive shaft supported on the boom between the first end and the second end, the digging assembly comprising: a handle configured to be supported on the drive shaft for translational and rotational movement relative to the boom; an attachment coupled to an end of the handle; a conduit including a first portion, a second portion, and a fluid coupling, the first portion in fluid communication with a portion of the attachment, the second portion in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid coupling including a first end in fluid communication with the first portion of the conduit and a second end in fluid communication with the second portion of the conduit; a first reel supporting the first portion of the conduit, the first reel supported on a support shaft for rotation about a first axis to reel in and pay out the first portion of conduit as the attachment moves relative to the boom; and a second reel supporting the second portion of the conduit, the second reel supported for rotation to reel in and pay out the second portion of the conduit as the attachment moves relative to the boom.
 2. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first reel and the second reel are rotatably supported by the support shaft, the support shaft defining the first axis as a common axis of rotation for both the first reel and the second reel.
 3. The digging assembly of claim 2, wherein the fluid coupling is offset from the common axis of rotation.
 4. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first reel is larger than the second reel.
 5. The digging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gear transmission for transmitting torque from the drive shaft to the support shaft, the gear transmission including a pinion and at least one gear member, the pinion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft, the pinion driving the at least one gear member to rotate the support shaft at a predetermined speed relative to the drive shaft.
 6. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis are collinear.
 7. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is extendable through a crowd distance, wherein the first reel includes a surface onto which the first portion of conduit is wrapped, the surface defining a perimeter of the first reel.
 8. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle engages the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft drives the handle for movement relative to the boom.
 9. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment includes a bucket pivotably coupled to the handle and a hydraulic actuator for pivoting the bucket relative to the handle, and wherein the first portion of the conduit is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator.
 10. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the second reel is coupled to the first reel, rotation of one of the first reel and the second reel causing rotation of the other of the first reel and the second reel.
 11. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the second reel reels in the second portion of the conduit concurrently with one of the first reel reeling in the first portion of the conduit and the first reel paying out the first portion of the conduit.
 12. The digging assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the conduit is suspended between the second reel and the fluid source in a slack state.
 13. A fluid conveyance system for a rope shovel, the rope shovel including a frame supporting a fluid source and a boom, a drive shaft supported on the boom, a handle movably supported on the drive shaft for translational and rotational movement relative to the boom, and an digging attachment coupled to the handle and pivotable relative to the handle based on operation of a fluid actuator, the fluid conveyance system comprising: a conduit including a first portion, a second portion, and a fluid coupling, the first portion configured to be in fluid communication with fluid actuator, the second portion configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid coupling including a first end in fluid communication with the first portion of the conduit and a second end in fluid communication with the second portion of the conduit; a support shaft; a first reel supporting the first portion of the conduit, the first reel supported on the support shaft for rotation about a first axis to reel in and pay out the first portion of conduit as the attachment moves relative to the boom; and a second reel supporting the second portion of the conduit, the second reel supported on for rotation about a second axis to reel in and pay out the second portion of the conduit as the attachment moves relative to the boom.
 14. The fluid conveyance system of claim 13, wherein both the first reel and the second reel are rotatably supported by the support shaft, wherein the first axis and the second axis are collinear, wherein the fluid coupling is offset from the common axis of rotation.
 15. The fluid conveyance system of claim 13, further comprising a gear transmission for transmitting torque from the drive shaft to the support shaft, the gear transmission including a pinion and at least one gear member, the pinion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft, the pinion driving the at least one gear member to rotate the support shaft at a predetermined speed relative to the drive shaft.
 16. The fluid conveyance system of claim 13, wherein the first reel includes a surface onto which the first portion of conduit is wrapped, the first reel defining a perimeter.
 17. The fluid conveyance system of claim 13, wherein rotation of one of the first reel and the second reel causes rotation of the other of the first reel and the second reel, wherein the second reel reels in the second portion of the conduit concurrently with one of the first reel reeling in the first portion of the conduit and the first reel paying out the first portion of the conduit.
 18. The fluid conveyance system of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the conduit is suspended between the second reel and the fluid source in a slack state. 